I'm shopping for a 5.9 360 for my Dakota. Is there any "real" difference between a 360 from a Dakota R/T compared to one from a Ram or Durango?

 

The 5.9 Magnum engine block and heads is the same from Dakota and Durango R/T and the Rams and Ram Van and Non R/T Dakotas and Durangos. The slightly more HP (like 5hp more) that came on R/T's has been talked about being the exhaust and the slightly higher performance pcm.

 

I have heard the R/T heads are different?

 

There are aluminum Mopar performance R/T heads but they didn't come on R/T's.

They are easily identified by the R/T stamp and the aluminum which stock is cast iron.